Mirror



y 1936. J. E. THOMAS ,0

MIRROR Filed April 5, 1935 (/0172 6? Jkamas.

Patented May 19, 1 9 36 usurp!)w STATES I mason John E. Thomas, La Grange, 11]., assignmto Hooker Glass & Paint Mtg. 00., Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application April 5, 1935, Serial No. 14,741

This invention relates to a mirror. More particularly, the invention relates to a portable type of mirror that is adapted to be positioned on highly polished surfaces, such as tables, buffets,

8 and the like, for decorative purposes.

It has heretofore been customary in the manufacture of table mirrors of this type to glue or cement a layer of felt to the back of the mirrorin order to prevent the mirror from scratching the l polished surface on which it may be deposited.

One of the dificulties of the use of a felt backing is that there is a likelihood of the felt becoming unglued and separated from the mirror. On the other hand, if the felt is secured too strongly to the silvered back of a mirror, there is danger of the silver layer being disrupted clue to the pull of the felt on it.

I have now found that a greatly improved table mirrormay be made without the use of felt but 20 by uniformly spreading short or powdered fibers over the painted back of the mirror while the paint is still sticky, so as to cause the fibers to adhere to the paint layerand thus afford a soft,

non-scratching back for the mirror.

vention to provide a portable mirror adapted for positioning on highly polished surfaces and the the specification and the accompanying drawing.

- This invention (in a preferred form) is illusdescribed.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of atable mirror embodying the principles of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentaryv bottom plan view of the mirror.

As shown on the drawing: I

The reference numeral Ill indicates generally a mirror embodying my invention and adapted to be positioned for decorative purposes on some horizontal supporting surface, such as a table or buffet, dresser, or the like. Said mirror Ill oomprises a plate glass Ii having the usual reflecting surface provided by a layer of silver l2. In accordance with usual practice, the layer of silver I2 is protected by a coating of shellac i3 and over that is applied a layer of paint it.

' In accordance with the principles of my invention, an outer backing layer of short fibers ll 1 is applied directly to the paint layer I4 while It is therefore an important object of this in-.

trated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully 3 Claims. (01. 88-105) the paint is still in a sticky condition. For this purpose a paint having a drying time of about thirty minutes is employed instead of the very quick drying paint that has previously been used, and the short or powdered fibers are sprayed onto the paint surface and caused to adhere thereto to provide a uniform soft mat of fibers/ A special type of spray gun is suitably used for applying the short fibers to the paint layer.

The type of fiber that is preferably used is known as flock. Various types of flock are available on the market, some being derived from cotton, some from wool and some from artificial silks, such as rayon. Any of these may beused satisfactorily. i

The advantage of the mirror of my invention is that the fibrous backing of flock is firmly anchored in the paint layer itself, so as to become an integral part thereof. There is thus no danger of the fibrous layer becoming detached, or catching upon some object and pulling the silver surgranted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. Thefcomblnation with a mirror formed of a glass having a silvered surface, of a protective coating therefor comprising a paint-like layer secured to said silvered surface and an external layer consisting of flock particles anchored in said paint-like layer. v

2. A portable mirror adapted to be positioned on polished surfaces, comprising a plate glass having a silvered surface, a layer of shellac covering said silvered surface, a layer of paint thereover and short fibers anchored in said paint to eliminate the likelihood of said mirror scratching the polished surfaces on which the same may be positioned.

3. A portable mirror adapted to be positioned on polished surfaces, comprising a plate glass having a silvered surface, a layer of paint thereover and cotton flock anchored in said paint to eliminate the likelihood of j'saldmirror scratching the polished surfaces on which the same may be positioned.

JOHN E. THOMAS.

facing layer away from the plate glass. Further- 

